Fire-extinguisher.



G. -W. CHURCHILL.

FIRE EXTINBUISHER. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 24. 1915.

1,200,707. Patented Oct. 10,1916

l. A [WIN] I INVENTlOR.

WITNESS- 670722 Q; Q

' OFFIC IEIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

Application filed November 24, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GRANT WV. CHURCHILL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Sacramento, in the county of Sacramento, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Extinguishers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

This invention relates to improvements in chemical fire extinguishers, the object of the invention being to produce an extinguisher either for stationary or portable usage and one in which a large amount of extinguishing chemicals may be carried and at the same time permit of only a required amount being used at any given time, the balance to remain stored in the receptacles again ready for use, the. object of this being to obviate the necessity of filling and refilling the receptacles each time the extinguisher is used as is now the common practice.

The aim of the invention is to provide two receptacles, one within the other, each to contain one kind of extinguishing chemicals, one receptacle being under constant air pressure, such air pressure being admitted to the other receptacle only when the extinguisher is brought into use, such pressure being used to force the two chemicals into combination with each other prior to being discharged from the extinguisher.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposes for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of,

such structure and relative arrangement of .parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the extinguisher showing the manner in which it may be connected with permanent'pipe lines for distribution throughout a building,. boat, car or other places liable to the dangers of conflagration. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view Specification of Letters Patent.

a glass tube 11.

Patented Qct. 1Q), 1916.

Serial No. 63,275.

showing the combination of a pressure control valve. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the acid discharge nozzle showing the openings therein.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, I first provide a large metallic receptacle 1 which may be coated with asphalt as at 1 on its inner surface for preserving it from the action of the chemicals. This receptacle 1 is provided with an inlet cap 2 through which the chemical 3 may be poured into the receptacle 1.

The cap 2 is provided with a small inlet pipe 4 provided with a valve 5. Through this pipe 4 air pressure may be admitted into the tank 1 against the chemical 3. Depending within the receptacle 1 is a metallic chamber 6 provided with an asphalt coating 6 into which chamber I dispose a glass tank or receptacle 7 arranged to carry the other chemical which ordinarily is sulfuric or such similar acid. The fact that I place it within the glass receptacle 7 prevents it having a deleterious action against the walls of the metallic chamber 6.

The chamber 6 is suitably provided with a tight packed cover 8 from which leads a pipe 9 having an absolutely tight packing 10 disposed therein through which projects The glass tube 11 leads from a point near the bottom of the glass receptacle 3 and projects through the packing 10 and into a mixing T 12 where it is provided with a plurality of discharge spray outlets 13. r

A pipe 14 leads from a point near the bottom of'the receptacle 1 through a suitable tight packing 15 and thence. connects with the mixing T 12 at substantially right angles to the discharge tube 11. An air pipe 16 leads fromthe upper part of the receptacle 1 and connects with the receptacle or chamber 6 with an intermediate valve 17 for normally closing communication between said receptacles 1 and 6, the pipe 14 likewise having a valve 18 for normally closing communication between the receptacle 1 and the mixing T 12. A common valve lever 19 is, connected with the valve stems 17 and 18 of the valves 17 and 18 and serves to" open or close both of said valves simultaneously. 1

In practice when the extinguisher -is to be brought into use for the purpose of extin- Y the chemical 3 to force the same through the pipe 11 and into the mixing T 12. Simultaneously therewith, the valve 17 is opened and the air pressure moves from the receptacle 1 through the pipes 16 and into the receptacle 6 forcing the chemical 20 in the receptacle 7 through. the tube 11 and into the mixing T 12 where it adlnixes with the chemical The mixture is then forced by the air pressure either through the discharge hose 21 to a nozzle or through a pipe line 24 from whence it may be led to sprays 25 either arranged below the ceilings of the structure of the building or to discharge nozzles 26 below the floors of the structure of the building, boat, car or other similar places. The discharge nozzle 23 may of course be provided with a valve '24 for opening or closing the same.

Upon the conflagration being subdued, the valve lever 19 may be operated to close the valves 17 and 18 thereupon immediately shutting off the delivery of the chemical 3 and the air pressure against the chemical 20, allowing the chemicals to immediately resume normal inactive condition, and if all of the chemical material has not been used it is ready for further use at any time without the necessity of refilling the receptacle each time the extinguisher is brought into use.

The extinguisher may be fixed at some stationary point or it may be mounted on wheels 27 for transporting it from one point to another. The extinguisher also may, if

. desired, be capable of being automatically thrown into use by means of the following structure, viz: The valve lever 19 may be provided with a spring 28 which would normally pull against the lever- 19 to throw it to open position, this tendency being normally overcome by means of a cable 29 having inserted portions 30 capable of being burnt or melted by flames or heat. Should a conflagration occur adjacent one of these inserts 30 and destroy the same this would break the continuity of the cable 29 and release its hold on the lever 19 whereupon the spring 28 would pull on the lever 19 and open the valves 17 and 18 allowing the action of the fluid pressure to force the chemicals together and deliver them through the pipe lines 24 to the sprays 25 or 26 for the purpose of extinguishing the conflagration.

In order to relieve the pressure from the receptacle 6, when communication is shut, off between the members by the valve lever 19 in order to prevent the continued motion of the acid through the glass tube 11, I provide a relief valve 31 in the pipe 16 between the valve 17 and receptacle 6, which valve 81 is provided with. a lever 82 connected by a link 33 with the lever 19. When the lever 19 moves to closing position to shut the valves 17 and 18, it opens the valve 32 relieving the pressure from the receptacle (3. Vice versa, when the lever 19 moves to open the valves 17 and 18, it closes the valve 32.

As may be readily seen the receptacles 1 and 7 -may be made of any desired size or positioned at any desired point in the structure and can always be ready for use either manually or automatically as may be desired.

From :the foregoing description it will readily be, seen that'I have produced such a device as substantially fulfils the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

\Vhile this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as donot form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A fire extinguisher comprising a liquid containing receptacle having the liquid therein maintained. normally under a fluid pressure, a second liquid containing receptacle, means for admitting the fluid pressure from the first to the second receptacle as desired, a discharge member from each receptacle leading to a common point, and a closure for the discharge member of the first named receptacle arranged to be opened at will, as described. I

2. An extinguisher of the character described comprising tWo receptacles, a common mixing point, a pipe leading from each receptacle tothe common mixing point and a pipe leading from one receptacle to the other, means normally closing communication through said latter named pipe and through one of said first named pipes, means for simultaneously opening communication through said last named pipes, and means for admitting fluid pressure to one receptacle, as described.

3. A device of the character described comprising two receptacles each having a discharge pipe, said discharge pipes terminating adjacent each other, means for closing communication through one of said pipes, a pipe leading from one receptacle to the other, means for normally closing communication through said last named pipes, a common means for opening communication through both of said last named pipes, means for admitting fluid pressure to one receptacle whereby such fluid pressure will force the chemical from -such receptacle through one of said last named pipes and pass the pressure through the other of said last named pipes from one receptacle to the other, as described.

4. An extinguisher of the character described comprising two independent receptacles, a discharge pipe leading from each receptacle to a common point, a pipe leading from one receptacle to the other, a valve in said last named pipe and a valve in one of said first named pipes, and a lever common to both valves for opening and closing the same simultaneously, as described.

5. An extinguisher of the character described comprising two independent receptacles, a discharge pipe leading from each receptacle: to a common point, a pipe leading from one recegtacle to the other, a valve in said last name pipe and a valve in one of said first named pipes, a lever comnion to both valves for opening and closing the same simultaneously, a spring connected with said lever and normally tending to pull the same to open said valves, and means normally holding said lever to close the valves, such last named means being destructible by flames or heat, as described.

6. The herein described method of handling fire extinguishing liquids consisting in normally reserving the liquids in separate receptacles, maintaining one liquid normally under fluid, pressure and upon the occurrence of fire admittingthe fluid pressure from the one receptacle to the other and allowing the fluid pressure in both receptacles to force the liquids to a common meeting point, as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GRANT W. CHURCHILL. 

